ABOUT

Roxbury Innovation Center is a landmark project for the city of Boston.

This project supports local economic development by encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

What is Roxbury Innovation Center?

Roxbury Innovation Center (RIC) was created through a public-private partnership with the City of Boston and Venture Café Foundation, our mission is to support local economic development, in Roxbury, by empowering and guiding innovation and entrepreneurship, as viable career options. Since opening in late 2015, RIC has provided a diverse variety of resources for small business owners of all stages and industries, through instructional workshops and courses, networking events, and office hour mentorship.

Centrally located in the heart of Boston, Roxbury Innovation Center shares the historic Bruce C. Bolling Building with Boston Public Schools’ central offices and several retailers. Roxbury Innovation Center partners with food retailers in Dudley Square in order to provide catering services for scheduled events and meetings. A noteworthy provider is Dudley Dough, an initiative of Haley House’s economic inclusion program.

Roxbury Innovation Center is able to provide low to no cost programming due to the generous support of our Founding Sponsors: the City of Boston, CIC, Microsoft, and the Boston Foundation; our Silver Sponsors the Timothy Smith Network, Fab Foundation, Verizon Foundation, MassTech Collaborative, and Haworth.

Check out HAPPEN MAGAZINE!

” There are stories to tell and we tell them. Read about the innovators, dreamers, and doers from all around the world who are using their skills to make things happen. “

The Team

Kevin Wiant

Kevin is Executive Director of Venture Café Foundation Boston. Previously, Kevin has been on the management teams of several early-stage companies in the mobile, telecommunications, web, software and semiconductor industries, including Comverse, Boston Technology, AirWide, Technology Concepts, Telelogic, Wolfdata and Mostek. His executive roles have been in business development, sales, marketing, product management and corporate development. Kevin has extensive international expertise, having taken over 170 trips to over 30 countries. He also serves on the Boards of the MIT Enterprise Forum and Mobile Monday Boston.

Lanita McCormick

Lanita is the Director of our Roxbury Innovation Center. Lanita is a proud Roxbury native who has had the opportunity to expand upon her beginnings. Her background spans from the private sector to the not-for-profit arena. In Lanita’s corporate experience her work has been in marketing and sales for companies such as ABC Television and PepsiCo. Her not-for-profit work has been around program design, implementation and community engagement. With a true passion for people, she believes that by giving individuals the tools they need you are laying the groundwork for that individual to be able to forge forward. Lanita has a love of all things cooking, traveling and a burgeoning interest in designing spaces.

Phernegize ‘Gia’ Manigat

Gia was born in Haiti, later came to Boston at 9 years old and has always had a passion for creating and helping others create. As the STEM Programs Manager, she builds experiences for Boston and particularly the community of Roxbury where she encourages all folks of all ages to become innovators in their own way. Having obtained a Bachelors in Industrial Design and Sculpture from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, she comes from a background of an artist, a designer, and an overall maker. Besides 3D printing or laser cutting, you can find Gia painting, buying tickets to concerts, constantly traveling or enjoying diversity events in her community.

Herb Lozano

Herb is our Marketing and Events Manager.

Herb Lozano, 28, is a native and long time resident of Boston, MA. Herb attended Cathedral High school where he excelled as a student and athlete, winning 2 State Championships on the varsity boys basketball team. he later continued his education studying Mass Communication/Broadcast & Journalism at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA. Upon his return to Boston, Herb began his career in the broadcasting field as a Host and Producer of WRBB, WZBR and online radio show called PLAY Radio. Most recently Herb Lozano is the Events and Marketing Manager at the Roxbury Innovation Center, where he organizes events and promotes programs for youth and adults on entrepreneurship and startup businesses.

Cairo White

Cairo is our Part-Time Associate.

Cairo White, 21, wears many hats at the Roxbury Innovation as a Communications, Events and STEAM expert. He is currently an Engineering student at Wentworth Institute of Technology.

Meet our Interns and Apply!

Khalif Muhammad

Khalif is our new Intern from the Roxbury Community.

Khalif was born on November 10th, 2003 at the Newton Wellesley hospital and has been homeschooled his entire life, however, he was recently accepted into the Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay, and coming this September he shall be attending his very first semester as a high school Freshman. Provided with the proper environment Khalif can be a very focused and efficient set of hands. For as long as he can remember Khalif has been playing all kinds of video games, and during this time he’s developed a love and appreciation for 3D modeling and character creation, and someday he hopes to make a career out of his passion.

Meet our 8th Grade Apprentices!

In Partnership with Apprentice Learning.

Terrance & Damoni

OUR PARTNERS

Innovation is always a collaborative process, and we are grateful to our sponsors and partners for their creativity, generosity and support.